I turned in the revision yesterday morning before work. The weekend was spent doing only that; on Sunday I think I worked at it for 11+ hours. There were moments when I felt sure I couldn’t finish, but somehow I did finish, looking back I don’t know how. Then, after it was all over, IContinue reading “After Revision”
Monthly Archives: April 2008
What My Locker Reveals
Inside the storage locker at my weekend writing spot are the following items that I keep on hand in case I might need them at a moment’s notice: 1 black sweater 1 used plastic bag, for covering laptop if it rains 1 Antioch Review magazine 1 You Can Write for Children Writers Digest Guide 2Continue reading “What My Locker Reveals”
Honestly
I really have no idea how I will manage to finish this revision today, honestly.
Finish It Already
“Have a good writing day,” e said to me at the door this morning. “Now finish it already, goddamn it!” The “it” that has taken residence in the apartment, larger in the room than the largest elephant, is of course the revision. It is a hurdle to write something you don’t want to write anymore,Continue reading “Finish It Already”
Possible Excuses for Missing Deadline
My manuscript was stolen and I only just paid the ransom to get it back. I am allergic to revision and had to take antibiotics and wait for the swelling to go down. Bad spill. Can’t read revision notes. Grizzly bears / wild boars / rabid pigeons ate it. I had a finger injury andContinue reading “Possible Excuses for Missing Deadline”
Here I Am Still Revising
Happy Earth Day. Happy Passover. Happy Spring. What day is it again? I am still revising. I am mad-scramble revising, push-it-till-you-drop revising. Can’t-even-form-a-proper-sentence revising. Stop-staring-at-me-from-across-the-room I’m revising. Revising so this can be over. Revising so I don’t take on another freelance assignment like this again. Revising, revising, revising until words have no meaning. When IContinue reading “Here I Am Still Revising”
Losing Antioch
For those of you who may remember my posts from last year about the closing of my college, Antioch College, here’s a very sad update from The New York Times. This is the worst thing that could have happened. I have often told myself that one day I would publish books and I would giveContinue reading “Losing Antioch”
Deadline vs. Life
My deadline for the revision of my 40,000-word work-for-hire manuscript is this coming Friday, April 25. Even if I tried to keep working on this all day today (Saturday), and then all day tomorrow (Sunday), and then all through the week—keeping in mind I leave for my day job at nine in the morning andContinue reading “Deadline vs. Life”
First Book Contract Stupor
Today, while I was at work, my book contract arrived at my apartment. I was fifty blocks away and couldn’t see for myself until after 5 o’clock. E called the moment it was dropped it off. He described the contract, read me choice bits. My name is there. The name of the novel. A plotContinue reading “First Book Contract Stupor”
The Revisions Are Coming, the Revisions Are Coming!
You heard right: the revisions on my last work-for-hire manuscript are coming my way. They will be messengered to me tomorrow. Sounds daunting that they must be messengered rather than emailed, no? I’ve also been warned I have to cut 7,000 words. Guess what I’ll be doing all weekend?
